Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-02-21
POLICE COuRT-YsS, OR MOP

Points of the Law EIaborateIy Discussed.
To the Editor Of the Republic:
Now that this question must in all prob
ability be settled by the Voters of Spring
field. it seems to be time TO look into this
new law, and learn that which fear our
Legislators have overlooked. viz: whether
or not its workings will overcome the evils
that exist in our municipal affairs.
The worst of these are:
First-The decentralization existing among
our police and the indifference, or inability.
of the powers that be" to correct it.
Second-The unnecessary Office of city
marshal.
Third-The opportunity afforded the of
ficerS for making arrests and wrongfully
convicting persons accused of offenses for
the sake of their fees.
The first two are plain TO be seen by
anyone. the last | believe only to have
arisen with the chronic political sorehead.
and the police court lawyers who can't
under the present law. prolong n case by
''the tricks of their trade, 4" nor bulldoZe our
present mayor. as most of them have
learned to their disgust.
don't believe that there is anything in
the last complaint from the fact that it has
never been shown in a single case that any
respectable citizen who Is able to pay his
dollar and costs" has been SO fined. If
this were an evil practiced to such an eX-
tent as to require legislation would not il be
pn every tongue? All our citizens who
have the dollar and costs" are not so
''awfully good" as to never do anything to
get caught by these robbers OF the peoples
money and liberty.
Nor are the mayor and marshal such
fools that if they were going for the money
only. they would arrest and convict only
petty thieves. dead beats and professional
drunkards which uo% make up the bulk of
the daily grist. No, Mr.. Editor. the
last complaint has no foundation
in fact, and l venture the as
SertiOn If it had not been
that some of our attorneys desire to get a
''whack" al the mayor because he sat
down on ihem." pardon the slang. but if
best expresses the case. and that there is a
large democratic rat in the mea! chest, this
law never would have been rushed through.
However, as it must now IT be voted on,
let us see what it does. for ourselves:
Fist. 1t doesn't change the control of
the police force. and therefore it is safe to
assume that that they may continue TO go
to dances, get drunk. etc, just as they have
in the past
Second 1t doesn't abolish the Office of
but leaves that 10 council. at their
option: and who is 50 silly a. to expect our
present council TO abolish the Office 50 long
aS there is a ghost of show Ior electing a
democrat TO the placI?
The oaly thIlig which the law does effect
is TO take from the mayor his fees. and
compel Us TO pay handsome salary to four
tall of whom may be and two
must be attorneys to do the work which
he mayor row does in an average of one
hour each day, and in that time he is
charged with doing extra work for the
sake of extra pay"
II all this additional expense SaddIed
onto the city Were for better government
We might stand il. but If any one will read
the law as now amended. they will see that
the machinery is so complicated that our
keen police court attorneys can get the
iOughs. gamblers and saloon keepers out of
hook with the least amount of trouble. and
get their fee. but as it is now. by the time
the fellow pays his fine and costs his money
is gone. aud hence another cause for
''Squeal."
The judge gets So 600 or less as provided
BY council. for what is now done in one
hour or les by the mayor.
The prosecuting attorney of the police
court, salary lunlimited) supposed 10 be
about 1000. for doing what the mayor
now does for nothing. and of which it is
claimed he does too much and too well.
What on earth this fellow will do to earn
his salary is a conundrum | submit TO the
alleged author of the bill and lis democratic
friends.
The clerk of police cOurt-Salary from
5000 TO 81. 900, as determined by council. to
10 what is now paid for by the mayor. and
which costs the city nothing. Aud finally
, mayOr-Salary unlimited-whOse sole duty
will be to manipulate" the police force
md tire department for political purposes. |
and you have the sum total. When this |
aw. CT ginaiing in democratic council. is |
considered in connection with the result Of
our late city elections. the tail of the demo
rrat rodent NAV be seen.
Ii there We're real desire to improve |
our municipal affairs, why was not a law |
enacted 10 salary the mayor. abolish the |
Office of marshal absolutely. and put the |
police under the cOntrO. Of a non
partisan commission? Even now
a bill has passed the Senate and is in the
House. to put the police of Dayton under
the control of such board, and urge upon
Messrs. Rawlins and Pringie Ia have
Springfield included, which no doubt can
DE- done for the asking. As TO the subject
Inder consideration. let all good citizens |
vote, Police C0Ut-No. LETIIE.
''Happy Bob" Van Brunt, of the Saliva
ion Army, was sentenced at Eimra. \. \ q,
o hang on April Il. for the murder of VIII +,
poy